Improvement in life-preservers



R. E. ROSE.

Life-Preserver;

No. 212,404. PatentedFeb. 18,1879,

WITNESSES UNI-TE ATENT FFIE' IMPROVEMENT IN L lFE- -PREsERVERs.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent No. 212,404, dated February 18, 1879; application filed December 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUs E. Rose, of Gretna, in the county of Jefferson and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Prescrvers; and

1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to liie-preservers; and is designed to provide an improved form thereof, which can be adapted equally well to the different garments which may be worn upon the person, or can be made as a separate article free from the clothing.

The invention consists, first, in the combination, with two or more separate air-chambers, provided with inwardlyopening valves,

adapted to be independently operated, of an air-supply device communicating in common with said valves; second, in the combination of two or more separate air-chambers, respectively provided with independent reliefvalves; third, in the combination, with a series of separate air-chambers, each provided with anindependent set of inlet and outlet valves, of an air-supply tube having communication with each of said inlet-valves.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a life-preserver, illustrating one form in which my invention may be incorporated. Fig. 2 is a detail view of two of the sections or air-chambers. Fi 3 is a transverse vertical section through one of said sections in detail.

The several sections or air-chambers A may be in any number from two up to as large a series as is desired. They are, respectively,

formed separate from one another, as shown,

by scams or partitions a. Each of them is provided with an independent set of inlet valves, B, and outlet or relief valves G, both inlet and outlet valves being adapted to open inwardly.

An air-supply device,communicatin g in common with said sections or air-chambers, consists of a tube or equivalent passage, D, extending along'the length of the preserver above the several sections or chambers, and having indirect communication with the latter by means of said inlet-valves, which, respect-- ively, are located between. said tube and each of the chambers. This air-supply tube may be provided with a suitable mouthpiece or equivalent device, E, whereby air is injected into the tube and through the latter by means of the several valves within the different chainbers, the inlet-valves readily opening to such external ainpressure and closing immediately upon release from the same, thus automati cally sealing the respective chambers against any tendency of the charged volume of air to escape in return movement through its inlet passage.

The relief-valves are adapted to be open ated so as to open and admit the charge of air to escape by means of suitable pressure ap plied thereto against their outer side. The form of these inwardly-opening and outwardlyclosing valves may vary from that illustrated in the drawings. Any valve mechanism capable of so opening may be used. So, too, the form of air-supply device may be changed, provided only the same is adapted to have communication in common with the several inlet-valves. Instead of being placed at the top it may be at the bottom, the middle, or other part of the series of chambers.

Instead of making the preserver in the form of a pocket life-preserver, as herein shown, and which is capable of being compactly and conveniently folded up, the principle of the invention is especially designed for use in em bodiment in different articles of Weariugapparel, Whether the latter be for the male or female person. Thus vests, under waists, dresses, shawls, cloaks, overcoats, and any other'article of wearing-apparel may be readily provided with the invention, so as to per mit the latter to operate in instances of need without in the least detracting from the fit ting and presentment of said articles of wear at times when the preserver is not required to be inflated.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let tors Patent, is

1. A life-preserver consisting, essentially, in the combination, with two or more separate air-chambers provided with inwardly-opening valves adapted to be independently operated,

of an air-supply device communicating in common with said valves, substantially as set forth.

2. In a life-preserver, the combination of two or more separate air-chambers, respectively provided with independent relief-valves substantially as set forth.

3. A life-preserver consisting in the combination, with a series of separate air-chambers each provided with an independent set of inlet and outlet valves, of an air-supply tube having communication with each of said in let-valves, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of December, 1878.

RUFUS E. ROSE.

Witnesses: IGNACE PERRIN,

E. A. HUBEAU, HENRY S. BoUDoUs UIn. 

